Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-24
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII
AND IF SHE DOES, HOW ABOUT THE OTHER:
Dick was not clever fellow, but he, GER
tainly, was not a fool He essayed to make
mental estimate of both girls, and sue
ceeded wonderfully well
The Princess, he acknowledged, was a
woman of singularly fine, pure and lovely
character, deep and strong in her affections,
simple-minded and guileless, yet not devoid
of what is commonly known as strong COM
mon sense.
'sDeep and loving where she loves; but that
she does not love, am positive. / could
swear to it?''
With all her soft womanly traits, she was
too susceptible to the sin of pride. 1t had
unconsciously become matter of pride with
her to show no interest in mankind. With
no other woman, except Lydia, would she
have spoken so freely; and, even with that
friend, she could scarcely depart from her
pretty, proud, little reserve, without visi-
BILE effort at unbending. Her bushes were
clearly not because of her interest in the
man, but proceeded from sort of shame at
acknowledging, and even at entertaining,
that interest
But said Dick to himself, 'sna char
mamie, your interest is at present contem-
plative. What that interest might develop
into, under the proper circumstances, can't
say. But do say that Mistress Lydia is
most decidedly interested in this young
man, and that it would require but slight
effort ON his part to deepen that interest.
And, if she loves, she loves forever Her
natures strong, but Graves something upon
which to expend that strength; can't exist
without it. Natalie lives in the realm of her
imagination and does not ask for sympathy
delighting in her arts. Lydia is strong, but
looks for sympathy and love, and something
upon which to expend sympathy and love, in
return. She couldn't find what she wanted
among those frivolous fops of society, and
now Fairfax has appeared, and unconscious
" touched the deep chord that never before
vibrated. Well! they'd make a splendid
pair, and he'd be a fool not to try for her.
She's worth four of the other in my opinion,
although 1 acknowledge that's saying great
deal"
With this sage and indisputable conclu-
sion Richard was about to retire, by push
ing himself backward, until he deemed it
safe to stand upright, as he saw a move
ment in the camp below that indicated prep
aration for fight. However, his attention
was arrested by sentence, half suggest
i've, half-timid, and altogether remarkable,
ventured by Lydia: 81 had thought of ask
ing Mr.. Fairfax to call with me at Chateau
Dor
II came here with the intention of receiv-
ing no visits but those of my Oldest friends"
said Natalie, frigidly; ''and see no reason
why should alter my intention. Besides,
my dear LYDIA 1 leave Chateau Dor in a
few days, at the latest, for Lake Maggiore."
Lydia said no more, and the two girls,
evidently both feeling little uncomforta-
BILE, and yet both striving to conceal their
emotion, prepared to depart.
Dick, now executing his retrograde move
ment, arose and found Fairfax-who by this
time had recovered his equanimity, and
shaken off the bliss aroused by the fair
Natalie's words-in the midst of some calcu-
lation or other, using his knee as table
aud leaf of his diary as note-paper
-Gavefhey started, Dicks" asked he, sud-
denly.
NO, but they are on the point of start
ing"
Fairfax turned to the left in the main
road, and whipped up his horse to greater
speed
''Are you not going back to the village!''
queried Richard.
'sWait," laconically answered the imper-
turbable Fairfax.
A short distance from the brook he
refined up and drove the chaise among the
trees. He then led the way to the road.
The noise of Gathering hoofs coming nearer.
caused the pair to retreat behind the bushes
that had sheltered Fairfax the afternoon
previously. The were ensconced none too
soon.
The two girls appeared directly, and rode
to the pool, where they allowed their horses
to drink. Natalie leaped to the ground and
stood by Medji, holding the reins in her
hands. Fairfax took note of this, and also
Of the fact that the servants again delayed
their appearance.
SIT is to be hoped" sadly remarked Nat
allie, s'that those servants will not forget
any thing to-day. Catharine has just con-
fessed that Dimitri and she had already
passed the brook and gone iEto one of the